A US couple who waged an online campaign against their wedding photographer have been ordered to pay her more than $1.2m in damages.

Texas couple Neely and Andrew Moldovan "wrongfully attacked" photographer Andrea Polito in a smear campaign that went viral online and also made news headlines, a court found.

The Moldovans hired Polito to take the photos at their wedding in October 2014 but got into a disagreement with her over what they claimed were "unreasonable fees", Dallas News reported.

Weeks after the wedding the couple contacted Polito asking when their photos would be ready.

Polito reminded them they needed to pick a cover image for their album. The cover image carried an extra $120 fee, a condition outlined in the contract the couple had signed.

The couple claimed their photos were being 'held hostage'. ()

But the couple objected to the cost and after emailing them, Polito said she had decided to absorb the cost to keep her customers happy. But when she contacted them days later she found out they had already called several news organisations.

The couple also made "disparaging and defamatory statements" on social media and on wedding blogs, claiming the photographer "cheated" and "scammed people" and that their photos were being "held hostage".

Photographer Andrea Polito (left) and her photo of Neely and Andrew Moldovan at their wedding. (Photo: CBS, and Polito) ()